crochet on the go

Crocheting in the Car

Some people are able to just grab their things and go and are not extremely concerned about particulars when it comes to crocheting in the car. I, on the other hand, can only work on certain projects. I’m very particular about what yarn I’m using, the hooks I have on hand, and other tools we often need (and let’s not forget about a way to store all of the previously mentioned goodies). If you have never worked on a project while traveling, you may want to start. It can help fight off boredom and reduce stress. In the rest of this article, I’ll review all of my tips to make crocheting in the car, bus,boat, train, plane, submarine, or whatever your means of transportation worthwhile. Oh, and one other thing to mention before we get started, please don’t crochet while you are the one driving. Make sure to use your DDC (Designated Driver for Crocheting). The rest of what I say in the following is all just suggestions and what works best for me.

Why You Should Try Crocheting in the Car

Do you have anxiety about road conditions or other drivers? If you answered yes, crocheting in the car can be just what you need to distract you from your surroundings. It gives you something to repeat, which releases a happy endorphin, ultimately calming your nerves. If you get bored on long trips but don’t enjoy readying, crocheting could be something for you to do to keep yourself from the doldrums.

Types of Projects

This one may apply to some and not to others, but for myself this has been a very good rule to follow. I get very distracted while on the road. I like to look at the scenery, my husband and I like to chat, and my kids always need something right when I get going. Due to these reasons, it’s better for me to work on a project that is on a beginner or easy skill level. If the pattern has a lot of counting or different directions for every row or round, forget it. It’s not happening. So that virus shawl and that graphgan will just have to wait their turn. If you’re not like me, meaning you can actually pay attention to what you’re working on and don’t have little ones asking, “Are we there yet,” a million times, than you could probably disregard this whole section and work on whatever your heart desires.

Supplies for Crocheting in the Car

Yarn and Hooks

The first thing I tend to look at is my yarn since that determines the majority of the rest of your supplies. Working with crochet thread is not recommended due to the strain on your eyes. I get dizzy just thinking about it. The same goes for any yarn in the color black or other very dark colors. Trust me, you will need to rest your eyes a whole lot if you want to attempt this daring feat. I find that a thicker yarn is easier to work with, which leads me to hooks. The bigger, the better. No sound is worse than the clanking of that size F hook rolling down under the seat, and nothing will agitate you more than trying to retrieve that thin little hook from the floor while you’re going down the highway. Something with a comfort grip will come in handy as well. If you’re like me, when you try to get comfortable after sitting in the same seat for hours, you might put your arms in strange positions that can make you use your wrists and arms differently. A lighted hook can also do wonders for you eyes and make sure your project turns out perfectly. You can buy lighted crochet hooks from Amazon. They might make working with darker colors more tolerable.

Extras

Scissor safety is one of the most important things to me. If we were ever in a wreck and one of us were injured by my crafting scissors, I would never forgive myself. I tend to leave those at home and instead opt for ones with blunt tips. If for some reason I decide to bring my crafting ones, which are super-pointy and razor sharp, I stick them safely in the glove box. You might also need a needle to weave in your tails. I recommend bringing a blunt one and putting it somewhere that doesn’t give it the opportunity to roll away. Another item I frequently recommend is a headlamp. No, you’re not going to crochet in a cave (but if you really are, please tell me all about it). If your driver is like mine, then the map lights or reading lights are out of the question. Just make sure you remember to turn your light off before you turn your head in his or her direction, so you don’t potentially blind them.

Storage Suggestions for Crocheting in the Car

You can really go with whatever makes you the most comfortable with this topic. If you keep your car really clean, I envy you you may not really worry if your yarn falls on the floor. I leave my yarn in a bag that opens at the top, like a tote or 31 bag, and work from the center or the skein or leave enough room for the ball to roll around a bit. This keeps it from getting covered in leaves and other dirt (and probably gum from the bottom of my boots or a half-eaten lollipop from the bank drive thru). This is also the reason I recommend working with smaller projects while traveling. There’s less of a chance that your work will become soiled, and less chance of unwanted frogging. It’s also a great idea to have a storage solution that gives you different places to keep things separated. I have a round caddy from 31 that has a flat bottom and pockets the entire way around. C’est parfait!

Summary

I hope all of the tips and suggestions I provided were helpful. Do you have a favorite project to crochet on the go? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. If you have anything to share that you think would help others interested in this topic, please comment that as well. You never know, your comment on this article could help the next person that’s looking for advice about crocheting in the car.